So how do you spot a flood car?
 

I'll be in the market soon for a used daily driver. I would imagine there are a lot of flood cars that have been cleaned up coming out of the New Orleans area.

Any tips on avoiding/detecting a flood car?

Look for rust in unusual areas, especially on internal body seems. Pull the spare tire--often times there is still water in there. If not, look for rust/water lines on that rim. If you can get under the carpet, that is another place to look. Mud under the carpet or in the tire well are pretty sure signs.

If a car has been really cleaned up, look for strange electical problems. Make sure that headlights, horn, turn signals, radio all work properly.

Also if you can, pop a door cover off. Look inside the door for signs of water or dirt/mud sitting there. Look under the rear seat for dirt/mud.

As legion says, the water gets in the electrical connections and can cause grief forever.

JoeA

How do you spot a flood car? With your nose...

Yes, as mentioned. Rust and deformed/discolored composite panels as used in doors, deck panels, trunk etc.

Good point, gaijindabe...the mildew smell...

Also, look for excessive use of recently-used air freshener.

Nothing is 100%, but a few simple things will weed out most.

Stains on the headliner...

Not just New Orleans...a friend living in the keys lost his '98 C2S with aero kit to flood damage. It sat parked for some time in salt water. It was a perfect total...not a scratch on it. :(

Water line?

I think Carfax has a free directory of flood damaged vehicles thanks to Katrina, that is if the vin was recorded. There was a good article about it in C&D a while back, they had police task forces assigned to recording the vins of flood vehicles. Unfortunately, many "dissapeared" before being recorded.

Re: So how do you spot a flood car?
 

Already seeing some here in SC. My wife and I looked at a nice 2003 Mustang recently, and I noticed dried mud in places where no mud should ever get to - up in the trunk lid seams.

I think the Carfax thing would miss a great many cars. I bet every small-time independent dealer out there cleaned them up and unloaded them to auctions in other states.

Ummm.... I think that's something else. ;)